Around the Music Festival

The selection of successors of the general director of the National Opera of Paris started to move. A newly established selection committee within the government made an interview with 11 candidates on the 9th and 10th. Based on the discussions there, President Emmanuel Macron will make a final decision. Stéphane Lissner, who has served as the general director since 2014, has decided to retire in 2021 as the term of office expires.

The establishment of a selection committee was proposed by Culture Minister Franck Riester. It was set up to enhance the transparency of the screening. The selection committee is composed of experts in the orchestral world, the dance world and the art world, and Chairman is served by Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, president of Electricity & Gas business ” Engie “. Clamadieu is an aide of President Macron.

The following 11 people are listed as candidates. There are five foreigners, including Dominique Meyer who has decided to retire the presidency of the Vienna State Opera in 2020, people who are involved in the operation of the opera house.

　Olivier Mantei … General Director of the Opéra Comique（Paris）
　Christophe Ghristi …　Artistic Director of the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse
　Laurent Joyeux … General Director of the Opéra de Dijon
　Marc Minkowski … General Director of the Opéra National de Bordeaux
　Peter de Caluwe …　General Director of the Monnaie Theatre（Brussels）
　Jean-Louis Grinda …　General Director of the Opera Monte-Carlo
　Jean-Marie Blanchard …　Former General Director of the Geneve Opera
　Joan Matabosch …　intendant of the Teatro Real（Madrid）
　Christina Scheppelmann … Artistic Director of the Liceu Opera（Barcelona）
　Alexander Neef … General Director of the Canadian Opera Company（Toronto）
　Dominique Meyer …　Intendant of the Vienna State Opera